P333: Putting chemistry on solid ground: Analysis of solids for a deeper understanding of chemistry

David Fraley, Todd Hamilton, Meghan Knapp (Georgetown College, USA)

Chemistry faculty are changing the way chemical education is conducted and thus impacting the interest level, skills, and depth of knowledge of students. Three new instruments for the analysis of solids are being integrated into the Chemistry curriculum. Their primary use is in the General, Liberal Arts, Inorganic, Physical, and Analytical labs. Faculty have been developing new, engaging labs for both non-science and science majors that involve hands-on use of these sophisticated instruments: an X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometer, a combined Differential Scanning Calorimeter/Thermogravimetric Analyzer, and an X-ray Powder Diffractometer. These instruments are being used, respectfully, to analyze for most elements in soils, powders, and metals; to characterize solid materials for properties other than structure or identity; and to provide information on the identity and structure of crystalline powders. These instruments were acquired through NSF-TUES grant 1043846. We hope to aid students’ understanding of solids and to enhance their understanding of the use of Chemistry in a wide variety of practical applications that are not readily evident to beginning students.